The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21

high duty on imported wool Is necessary fou
the benefit Of those who have sheep TO shear
in order that the price OF their wool may
be increased. They, OF course, are moi
reminded that the farmer who has no steeI
is by this scheme obliged, in his purchase o
clothing and woolen goods, to pay tribute
to his fellow farmer as we'll as to the manu-
facturer and merchant; nor is any mention
made Of the fact that the sheep p-owners them
selves and their households. must wear cloth
ing and use other articles manufactured from
the wool they sell at tariff prices, and thus as
consumers must return their share OF ths In
creased price to the tradesman
] think it may be fairly assumed that q
large proportion of the sheep owned by the
farmers throughout the country are found
in small fiocks numbering from twenty-five
to fifty. The duty on the grade Of imported
wool which these sheep yield IS l0 cents
each pound if of the value Of so cents or less.
and 12 cents If of the value OF moro than 81
cents. If the liberal estimate OF FIX
pounds be allowed for each fleece the
duty thereon would be 60 or 70 cents,
and this may be taken as the utmost
enhancement Of its price to the farmer 6y
reason of this duty. Eighteen dollars would
thus represent the increased price of the wool
from twenty-five sheep and thirty-siH dollars
that from the wool Of fifty sheep. and at
present values this addition would amount to
about one-third of its price. Ii upon Its sale
the farmer receives this or less tariff profit,
the wool leaves his hands charged with pre-.
cisely that sum- which in all its changes Will
adhere to it, until it reaches the consumer.
When manufactured into cloth and other
goods and material for use, its cost Is not
only increased to the extent Of the farmers
tariff profit, but further sum has been
added for the benefit Of the manufacturer
Under the operation Of other tariff laws.
In the meantime the day arrives when
the farmer finds it necessary to purchase
woolen goods and material to clothe him
self and family for the winter. When ne
faces the tradesman for that purpose he
discovers that he is obliged not only to
profit on the wool he sold, and which then
perhaps lies before him in manufactured form,
but that he must add q considerable sum
thereto to meet further increase in cost
caused by a tariff duty on the manufacture.
Thus in the end he is aroused to the fact that
he has paid upon a moderate purchase, as
result of the tariff scheme, which, when he
sold his wool seemed so profita BILE, an increase
in price more than sufficient to sweep away
all the tariff profit he received upon the wool
he produced and sold.
When the numbers Of farmers engaged in
wool raising is compared with all the farmers
in the country, and the small proportion they
bear to our population is considered: when it
Is made apparent that in the case Of large
part Of those who own sheep the benefit OF the
present tariff on wool Is illusory, and above all
when it must be conceded that the increase OF
the cost Of living caused by such tariff becomes
a burden upon those with moderate means
and the poor, the employed and unemployed,
the sick and we'll, and the young and old, and
that it constitutes taI which with relentless
grasp fastens upon the clothing Of every
man, woman, and child in the land, reasons
are suggested why the removal or reduction
of this duty should be included in revision
Of our tariff laws.
In speaking Of the increased cost to the con-
sumner Of our home manufactures, resulting
from duty laid upon imported articles of the
same description, the fact is not overlooked
that competition among our domestic pro-
ducers sometimes has the effect of keeping the
price Of their products below the highest limit
allowed by such duty. But it is notorious that
this competition is too often strangled by
combinations quite prevalent at this time,
and frequently called trusts, which have for
price of commodities made and sold by mem
bers Of the combination. The people can
hardly hope for any consideration in the
operation OF these selfish schemes.
If, however, in the absence Of such combi-
nation, healthy and free competition re-
duces the price of any particular dutiable
article of home production below the limit
which it might otherwise reach under our
tariff laws, and if, with such reduced price,
its manufacture continues to thrive. it is en-.
tirely evident that one thing has been discov-
cred which should be carefully scrutinized in
an effort to reduce taxation.
sa necessity Of combination to maintain
the price of any commodity to the tariff
point, furnishes proof that some one is willing
to accept lower prices for such commodity,
and that such prices are remuneratlve; and
lower prices produced by competition prove
the same thing. Thus where either of these
conditions exist case would seem to be pre-
sented for an easy reduction Of taxation.
The considerations which have been pre-
sented touching our tariff laws are intended
only to enforce an earnest recommendation
that the surplus revenues of the government
be prevented by the reduction Of our customs
duties, and, at the same time, to emphasize
suggestion that in accomplishing this purpo 9.
we may discharge a double duty to our people
by granting to them measure OF relief from
tariff taxation in quarters where it is most
needed and from sources where it can be
most fairly and justly accorded.
Nor can the presentation made OF Such con-
siderations be, with any degree OF fairness,
regarded as evidence of unfriendl!ness
toward our manufacturing interests, or of any
lack of appreciation of their value and i'm
portance.
These interests constitute a leading and
most substantial element of our national
greatness and furnish the proud proof of our
countrys progress. But if in the emergency
that presses upon us our manufacturers are
asked to surrender something for the public
IL fhns,.r ot,Snf n
we'll as grateful recognition Of advantages
already afforded, should lead them to willing
co.operation. No demand is made that they
shall forego all the benefits OF governmental
regard; but they cannot fail to be admonlshed
of their duty, as well as their enlightened self
interest and safety, when they are reminded OF
the fact that financial panic and collapse. to
which the present condition tends, afford no
greater shelter or protection to our manutac-
lures than to our other important enterprises.
Opportun .ty tor safe, careful and deliberate
reform is now offered; and none Of us should
be unmndful Of time when an abused and
irritated people. needless OF those who have
resisted timely and reasonable relief, may in
s;st upon radical and sweeping rectiflcation
of their wrongs
The difficulty attending a wise and fair re-
vision of our tariff laws is not undereSti-
mated 1t will require on the part of the
Congress great labor and care, and especially
a broad and national contemplation of the
subject, and a patriotic disregard Of such
local and selfish claims as are unreasonable
and reckless of the welfare of the entire
country.
Under our present laws more than 400 ar-
ticles are subject to duty. Many Of these do
not in any way compete with our own manu-
factures, and many are hardly worth atten-
ton as subjects Of revenue. a considerable
reduction can be made in the aggregate, by
adding them to the free list. The taxation
of luxuriss presents no features Of hardship;
but the necessities of life used and consumed
by all the people, the duty upon which adds